On October 27, Stuart from the UK shared his impressions after watching the dance drama “Wing Chun” in Guilin, Guangxi. “I’ve never seen a dance drama like this before. The use of light and shadow is fantastic, and the way it showcases Chinese kung fu is truly stunning,” he remarked.
The 2024 Guilin Arts Festival kicked off on October 26, and over the next two days, the original dance drama “Wing Chun” from Shenzhen was performed at the Guilin Grand Theatre.
As a deep male voice began to chant, the curtain raised, unfolding a story steeped in Chinese martial arts. The drama opens with a film about Wing Chun boxing, setting the stage for the entire performance. In the film, the character “Master Ye” journeys to a foreign land, clutching the “Wing Chun Hall” plaque, aiming to open the door to Wing Chun amidst a sea of martial arts schools. With a sophisticated stage setup, seamless scene transitions, and a blend of warm and cool lighting, the narrative intertwines the life journey of “Master Ye” with the dramatic portrayal of kung fu, showcasing the dancers’ precise movements through striking contrasts in light.
Stuart noted the impactful integration of cinematic elements within the performance. “I particularly loved the vintage film filters used during the performance; it created an immersive experience for me.”
Li Jingzhe, the deputy director of the Shenzhen Opera and Dance Drama Theater and the creator of “Wing Chun,” explained, “The storylines of the ‘film set’ and ‘Master Ye’ run parallel. The performers, dressed in fragrant cloud silk garments, seamlessly blend martial arts with dance, highlighting both Wing Chun boxing and the artistry of the fragrant cloud silk, both of which are part of our intangible cultural heritage.”
Graduate student Zhang Qiyu from Guangxi Normal University expressed her excitement: “It’s not often that we get to see a performance as professional as ‘Wing Chun’ in Guilin, especially one that combines martial arts with dance. I booked my ticket right away. I hope to learn from these dancers’ expertise to improve my own performance skills.”
The dance drama “Wing Chun” is a production of the Shenzhen Opera and Dance Drama Theater, sponsored by the Shenzhen Municipal Propaganda Department and the Shenzhen Cultural, Radio, Television, Tourism, and Sports Bureau. The script is penned by Feng Shuangbai, the chair of the Chinese Dancers Association, while the celebrated duo Han Zhen and Zhou Liya serve as the chief directors. Their collaboration has led to acclaimed productions such as “Eternal Waves,” “Only This Green,” and “Shawan Memories.” Since its premiere in December 2022, “Wing Chun” has performed over 200 times across China, Singapore, the UK, and France.
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